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BY 


ALBERT     E.     EGGE 


Pullman,    WasHingtoq,, 


PUBL  HE    AUSPiGES    OF    THE    WASHIN@TON    STATE 

JAN   6     ]r         --  -OLOCICAL  SOCIETY. 


NORSE  WORDS  IN  THE  ANGLO-SAXON  CHRONICLE. 


BY  ALBERT  E.  EGGE,   PULLMAN,   WASHINGTON, 


Read  before  "the  Washington  State  Philological  Society, 
Walla  Walla.  May  28,  1898. 

The  first  notice  of  Scandinavians  touching  the  coast  of  England  is  found  in 
the  ANGLO-SAXON  CHRONICLE  for  the  year  787,  when  three  pirate  ships  made  a 
landing  in  the  South.  There  were  other  raids  in  the  North  in  the  years  793  and 
794.  but  then  little  is  heard  of  the  pirates  for  forty,  y.eaiT*.  -exc< /pt  as  the V troubled 
neighboring  countries.  In  the  year  835  they  agaii'j,  JjegAliJto'-hr.rass  t-li<-  roasN  of 
England,  and  from  now  on  the  Chronicle  has  cisciiim.stanti'il.iK^icos  <>,'  lii'  ir  ir<>\  c- 
nients.  In  8<><>  the  invaders  occupied  East  Anglm,;J.V,uJ;  jn  \\t 'fcw.'>;<V-i's  JKe/y  were 
in  possession  of  all  England  east  of  a  line  running  from  London  to  Chester,  King 
Alfred  retaining  only  what  was  west  of  this  line. 

The  ANGLO-SAXON  CHRONICLE  has  come  down  to  us  in  seven  manuscripts  of 
various  length  and  importance,  one  of  which,  the  Laud  Manuscript,  runs  to  the 
year  1154.  about  seventy-five  years  beyond  the  longest  of  the  others.  It  therefor*' 
lias  the  largest  number  of  Norse  words,  especially  in  that  part  which  extends  be- 
yond the  time  covered  by  the  other  manuscripts.  It  is  supposed  to  have  been 
written  between  the  years  1121  and  1154.  at  Peterborough  in  Northamptonshire, 
where  Scandinavians  had  settled  thickly,  and  in  the  contemporary  speech  of  that 
district,  and  it  is  therefore  a  good  example  of  how  the  Norse  speech  was  beginning 
to  affect  the  English  in  that  part  of  England  where  the  Scandinavians  were  nu- 
merous. In  this  manuscript  several  Norse  words  are  found  very  early,  long  be- 
fore they  occur  in  the  other  manuscripts  and  before  the  Northern  pirate  invasions 
are  known  to  have  begun.  These  parts  of  the  manuscript  are.  however,  addi- 
tions and  interpolations  not  found  in  the  others:  hence  the  late  form  of  the  lan- 
guage in  which  they  are  composed.  The  Laud  Manuscript  was  written  in  1121 
and  the  following  years,  being  for  the  most  part  copied  from  earlier  manuscripts, 
and  the  language  differs  little  from  that  of  the  others  except  in  the  interpolations 
and  the  addition  extending  beyond  the  time  covered  by  any  of  the  other  manu- 
scripts, that  is  the  period  from  1079  to  1154.  These  parts  seem  to  have  been  com- 
posed in  the  form  of  English  then  spoken  in  that  district.  In  the  chronological 
list  I  give  of  Norse  words  in  the  ANGLO-SAXON  CHRONICLE  I  therefore  ignore  the 
words  found  in  the  early  part  of  the  Laud  Manuscript,  as  they  represent  the 
language  of  a  much  later  period. 

In  the  year  871.  the  year  when  Alfred  became  king,  we  find  for  the  first  time 
the  English  word  earl  (Eoui.)  used  in  the  sense  of  the  Norse  JARL,  the  meaning 
which  the  word  has  ever  since  retained.  KOHL  (later  earl)  little  by  little  supplant- 
ing EALDOKMAX.  This  is  a  case  of  burrowed  meaning.  The  word  is  very  com- 
mon after  871  and  usually  in  this  new  sense.  In  the  same  year  there  are  two  in- 
stances of  the  word  GEFYLCE.  meaning  a  division  of  an  army,  and  it  occurs  again 
in  lor>:».  10(i5.  and  1094.  It  is  otherwise  a  rare  word  in  English,  and  its  use  in  the 
Chronicle  at  such  a  time  may  be  due  to  the  Norse  FYLKI.  which  was  a  very  com- 


?S2864 


mon  word  and  must  have  bcon  in  frequent  use  by  the  invaders.  In  871)  we  first 
meet  with  the  word  viking  (WICKXGA.  gen.  pi.),  which  occurs  again  in  885  (twice), 
921  (WICIXGA),  and  982.  In  1098  is  found  "out-viking"  (uTwiKixGAX.dat.pl.). 
which  has  tlie  same  meaning.  The  word  HOLM,  which  in  Old  English  meant  the 
sea.  was  changed  by  Norse  influence  to  mean  an  islet.  In  this  sense  it  is  found 
in  902  and  again  in  1025.  The  word  HOLD,  a  title  of  rank  borne  by  some  of  the  in- 
vaders, is  found  in  905,  911,  and  921.  In  the  year  959  is  the  first  instance  of^the 
word  law  4n  the  sense  in  which  we  still  use  it.  The  original  word  for  law  in  Old 
English  \vt\9  li)oM  orfAKHTM.sf£  In  963  we  find  the  word  first  (FYBSTE),  which  does 
not  occur  again  tiH  '<M:r>  (F;JKS;F),  1128  (FIRSTK).  and  1132  (ALREFYRST).  This 
word  ?$  ijoJ/pHwd.iQJSeiunaji,  .exuept  as  a  noun,  and  the  usual  form  for  first  in  Old 
EngKsh.  l&o  tli&  tj^rfg$i},j9/VEBE£T,  which  in  later  English  becomes  less  and  less 
common,  first  taking  its  place.  In  the  Scandinavian  languages  first  (FYRST. 
F<EIIST)  is  the  only  word  used  in  that  sense,  and  it  seems  probable  that  the  substi- 
tution of  first  for  erst  in  English  is  due  to  the  common  use  of  that  word  by  the 
Norse  people  in  England.  In  903  is  found  for  the  first  time  also  the  word  FRA, 
which  has  ever  since  remained  in  the  language,  having  in  later  English,  like  other 
words  with  long  A,  assumed  the  form  FRO.  GEATAX,  to  say  yea.  grant,  formed  as 
if  from  GKA.  is  a  rare1  word  in  English,  whereas  the  corresponding  Norse  .TATA 
(JATTA)  is  very  common,  and  the  use  of  GEATAX may  be  due  to  the  Norse  equiva- 
lent. It  is  found  in  9(53.  1066,  and  1087.  In  1002  is  first  found  the  Norse  word 
GKITII.  peace,  which  at  once  became  common  and  remained  long  in  the  language. 
From  it  was  formed  the  verb  GRITHIAX,  "to  make  a  truce  or  peace."  "  to  take  un- 
der one's  protection,"  which  occurs  for  the  first  time  in  the  Chronicle  in  1016  and 
Thenceforth  is  very  common.  The  word  I^TAX.  to  let.  borrowed  from  the  Norse 
equivalent  the  meaning  "to  consider,  suppose,  think."  which  is  common  in  Middle 
English,  and  of  which  there  are  several  examples  also  in  the  Chronicle.  The  first 
is  found  in  the  year  1005.  Other  examples  are  found  in  1052  (D*)  and  1076  (D). 
In  1008  is  found  the  Norse  word  SCEGTH,  SCJBGTH  (O.  N.  SKEITH),  "  a  light  swift- 
sailing  ship."  In  1012  is  found  the  word  busting  (HUSTIXGE,  C,  D; — a?,  F: — A,  E; 
dat.  sing.),  a  meeting,  council,  which  occurs  only  once  in  the  Chronicle.  The  En- 
glish form  of  the  word,  which  does  not  appear  to  have  been  used,  would  have 
been  HUSTHIXG.  The  verb  outlaw  (UTLAGIAN,  GEUTLAGIAX)  appears  for  the  first 
time  in  1014,  and  after  that  is  very  common.  The  noun  (UTLAII,  O.  N.  UTLAGI)  is 
first  found  in  1048.  It  seems  probable  that  law  and  outlaw  are  Norse  words,  as 
they  are  not  found  in  German,  nor  in  English  before  this  time  (law  from  959). 
In  1055  occurs  the  form  inlaw  (GEIXLAGODE,  pret.  sing.).  In  the  year  1016  we 
first  find  the  word  fellow  (FEOLOGAN,  D,  pi.),  which  was  formed  in  imitation  of 
the  Old  Norse  FELAGI.  It  does  not  occur  again  in  the  Chronicle.  SA.MM.KI.K. 
••agreed,  united,"  which  is  found  in  1018  (D,  E)  and  not  elsewhere  in  English,  is 
doubtless  derived  from  the  ( )ld  Norse  SAMMAI.A.  which  has  the  same  meaning. 
In  1031  is  found  the  word  TAPEK.KX,  which  may  be  the  same  as  the  Old  Norse  TA- 
PAIMKX.  The  first  part  of  the  compound  is  explained  as  being  Slavonic  and  mean- 
ing AXE.  The  Norse  loan-word  LITHS.MEN.  used  in  the  sense  of  sailors,  is  found 


*The  letters  C,  D,  E  (for  Laud),  F   refer   to  manuscripts  so  marked  in  Earl< 
and  Plummer's  Two  SAXOX  CHRONICLES  PARALLEL,  Oxford,  1892. 


in  103C,.  104<)  (IJTSMEX).  1047  (J.ITSMAXXA  ).  :ind  10">o.  LITII.  licet,  is  found  in  10.">2. 
1  ()<)«).  1()»)S.  10(19.  and  1071.  a  very  common  word.  S(  IPLITH.  a  No  meaning  fleet,  is 
found  in  tin1  year  1<).">5.  The  word  ursrARi..  "  a  member  of  the  king's  body- 
guard." which  tirst  appears  in  103(5  ( 'iirscAKH'M).  occurs  again  in  1041  (urs- 
CAMI,A).  1().")4  (nrs(  AHH*MI.  1065  (HU8KARLA8),  and  1070  ( nrscAKLKs).  The  words 
HAMULE  or  HAMELE  (HAMULAN,  HAMELAN,  dati  Sing.),  found  in  I03'.i.  and  HA. 
found  in  1040.  and  both  meaning  rowlock,  are  borrowed  from  the  Old  Norse 
1IAMLA  and  HAR.  HAS.ETA.  rower,  thole-sitter,  which  is  found  In  1052  (HAS^E- 
TOX.  E,  pi.),  is  also  borrowed.  (Old  Norse  IIA-S,-;T,.  .  rlli"  word  u  <•;, :  herfast 
(  WEDEKFESTE.  pi.),  which  occurs  in  1040  and  means  v'afh.M-bouiid.  is  perhaps  an 
imitation  of  the  Norse  term  for  the  same  idea.  \vli?ch  is  still  ••  \\-eath. -r-fust. v  "•,  In 
1048  are  found  the  words  BUXDA  and  JIUSBUXDA.  ho.isi-holdpr.  deihed  from' the 
Norse  BONDI  and  HUSBOXDI.  In  1049  is  found  the  Norse  NI THING,  a  worthless 
fellow:  UXXITHIXO.  not  a  nithing.  "an  honest  man."  occurring  in  1087.  In  1049  is 
found  also  the  phrase  SCYLODE  OF  MALE,  meaning -paid  off.  dismissed. "  which  is 
an  imitation  of  the  Old  Norse  SKILJA  AF  MALI,  to  pay  off.  In  1050  is  found 
SKTTE  OF  MALE,  which  moans  the  same  thing,  paid  off.  In  10.";  occurs  the 
phrase  ABIDKN  HEORA  MALES,  they  "awaited  their  pay,"  and  in  ION-  DKOKK  TO 
MALE,  "on  hard  terms."  This  \\ord  MAL,  "suit,  cause,  agreement."  is  the  Norse 
form  of  the  English  MJEL.  which  we  now  pronounce  meal.  In  10.VJ  it  is  found  in 
TH.EK  B.ER  (JOWVIXK  EOHL  IT  ins  MAT.,  there  Earl  (lodwin  expounded  his  case. 
In  WITHEKMAL.  ••counter-plea,  defence."  which  is  found  in  the  same  year  (10") 2  I) 
WITHEIJMALE.  dat.).  the  word  is  used  as  the  second  part  of  the  compound.  In  this 
word  (MAL;  we  have  an  example  of  a  borrowed  form  and  a  borrowed  meaning. 
In  10.VJ  and  !().">()  we  find  WTSKCARL.  boatman,  also  a  word  brought  to  England 
by  the  p  -ople  of  the  North.  S:>  is  perhaps  also  C'KXKP  (KHNKTAS.  NKPAS.  ace.  ])!.). 
moustache,  which  is  found  in  10.">r»  (('.  I)),  and  may  come  from  Old  Norse  KAXPH 
or  KAMTH.  Th<«  word  FYLCMAN.  to  marshall  troops,  as  in  AXD  IH.KI:  nis  LITJI 
Fvrx'ADE.  and  there  marshalled  his  troops,  which  occurs  in  KKKi  ''.  is  doubtless  a 
Norse  word  like  (;EFYI.CE  mentioned  above.  In  the  same  year  we  meet  for  1):  •  firsi 
time  in  English  the  word  HIT  (AXD  IIYTTE  HI  BEGEOXDAX  EOFOHWIC.  D):  it  is  de- 
rived from  Old  Norse  IIITTA.  Th<>  form  WYUIJK.  worse,  which  occurs  in  the  same 
year,  instead  of  the  usual  WYHSA.  is  thought  to  be  due  to  assimilation  to  the 
Norse  VKKHI.  In  HM',7.  1070.  and  1122.  is  tound'the  word  Foiu"i'AX.  except,  with- 
out, a  combination  which  reminds  one  of  the  Norwegian  FOIJTTAX  and  tlx^  Danish 
FOKt'DEX.  I  have,  however,  not  found  the  word  in  Old  Norse.  Crave  UHAFIAN). 
which  occurs  three  times  in  1070.  may  be  of  Northern  origin.  It  N  not  found  i:i 
German,  nor  in  English  before  this  time,  whereas  it  is  common  in  all  the  Scandi- 
navian languages.  The  word  take  (TACAX).  which  gradually  crowded  out  the 
old  word  NIMAX.  is  anotln  r  Norse  loan-word.  It  is  found  for  the  first  time  in 
1072  (TOC)  and  occurs  again  in  107:>.  107(5.  1127  (TOC.  TACEN).  1132  (TOCAX.  TOC). 
and  1140  (TJECEX.  TOC).  (JHASCIXXEX.  made  of  gray  skins,  which  occurs  in  1<)7:> 
(GRASCHYXXEXE.  I)),  is  explained  as  probably  coming  from  Old  Norse  <;KA-SKIXX. 
the  name  of  a  costly  fur.  In  107(»  are  found  the  two  Norse  words  HOFDIXO  (HOF- 
DIXGAS,  D),  derived  from  O.  N..  IKEFTHIXGI.  chieftain,  and  BHYDI.OP  (BKYDLOPE. 
D,  dat.),  derived  from  ().  N.  BIU'TIILALT.  bridal,  marriage  feast.  In  los.-)  is  a  sol- 
itary instance  of  the  Norse  STOR.  large,  which  I  have  not  found  elsewhere  in  Old 


4. 

English.  In  108(5  occMirs  CAKLMAX.  a  male,  a  man.  the  first  part  of  which  is 
Norse.  The  English  form  was  CKOBL,  churl.  It  appears  again  in  1 137  (CARL.MEX). 
In  1096  the  O.  N.  word  for  battle,  ORROSTA.  appears  in  the  form  OBBEST  (OBBBSTB, 
«lat.).  which  is  not  found  elsewhere  in  the  Chronicle.  In  1123  is  found  the  plural 
of  SAXDERMAX.  messenger,  embassador.  formed  in  imitation  of  O.  X.  SEXDIMATHR. 
In  1124  is  found  the  first  example  in  English  of  the  word  WRAXG  (wrong),  which 
is  believed  to  be  borrowed  from  the,  Norse.  ROTFEST.  root-fast,  iirmiy  estab- 
lished, which  is  found  in  1127.  may  have  been  made  on  the  model  of  the  ().  X. 
ROT-FA^TR.,  The  word  SWKIX.  (swain,  young  man)  is  first  met  with  in  1128.  The 
verb  SCYKTK.  in  .thr  ejxpyes^sicj'M  THA  SCYRTE  THA  FLESCMKTE,  then  there  was  short- 
age«t>f.  fiesU-nwa.t.  w.hjch  occurs  in  1131.  reminds  one  of  O.  N.  SKORTA,  which  has 
the r  s"a.mj>  meaning  ;i  ml  is  very  common:  still  tlie  English  word  may  be  original. 
In  1137  occur  four  Norse  worus.  TIL.  which  appears  again  in  1140.  BATHE  (for  the 
English  BEGEX).  CARLMEN  (mentioned  above),  and  I>RAPEX,  the  imperfect  plural  of 
DREPAX.  which  is  derived  from  Norse  PREPA.  to  kill.  In  1140  is  found  LAXGFRI- 
TKKI,  Long  Friday,  that  is  Good  Friday.  In  the  Scandinavian  languages  the  day 
is  still  called  Long  Friday.  Other  Norse  words  found  in  the  same  year  areT.KCEX 
TOC.  FRA.  TIL.  which  have  been  mentioned  above. 

The  first  unmistakable  Norse  borrowing  in  the  Chronicle  appears  in  the 
year  871.  But,  as  remarked  above,  in  parts  of  the  Laud  Manuscript  which  are 
believed  to  have  been  interpolated,  and  hence  to  have  been  written  in  the  lan- 
guage spoken  about  Peterborough  at  or  after  1121.  there  are  Norse  words  long 
before  the  pirate  invasions  began.  Of  those  I  have  mentioned  in  chronological 
order  from  871,  EORL  is  found  in  656,  675,  and  777,  FRA  in  656,  GEATAN  in  650  and 
675.  and  FIRST  in  656  and  675.  Besides  these  is  BONDLAND,  in  777,  in  which  the 
first  part  is  perhaps  the  same  as  BUXDA,  householder;  and  SEOUETHEXBE.  seventh, 
in  656,  the  first  instance  of  the  introduction  of  x  in  the  ordinals,  which  is  believed 
to  have  been  done  in  imitation  of  the  corresponding  Norse  forms.  Compare  O. 
N.  s.iAuxru.  Norw.  SJAUXDE,  SJUNDE,  Dan.  SYVENDE. 

Many  of  the  proper  names  brought  to  England  by  the  Norse  settlers  were  re- 
tained by  their  descendants.  Of  such  are  found  in  the  Chronicle  Eric,  Harold, 
Osborn.  Seward.  Swain.  Thorold,  and  Thurston. 

Besides  the  words  enumerated  above,  there  are  in  the  Chronicle  several  oth- 
ers that  may  be  of  Scandinavian  origin:  but  it  is  very  difficult  to  find  conclusive 
evidence  either  for  or  against  such  derivation,  and  I  have  therefore  mentioned 
only  those  words  as  to  the  Norse  origin  of  which  there  seems  to  be  little  or  no 
doubt. 


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